MY ROLE
Co-Founder & Executive Director
TEAM
Co-Founder
SERVICES
01
Strategy & Development
Researched market needs and formed strategic direction and plan
02
Brand & Design
Established brand identity, led website development and marketing materials
03
Event Production
Led development of event calendar and executed engaging events
04
Operations Leadership
Oversaw day-to-day development and execution
BACKGROUND
Driven by the rising influence of UX design and design thinking, I co-founded Global UXD to foster a global community for connection, education, and exploration, amplifying UX design's impact on individuals and society. Through engaging events and partnerships, Global UXD empowers designers and enthusiasts to navigate the ever-evolving design landscape and explore its potential impact.
Discover
In the discover phase, our goal was to thoroughly understand the landscape and perspective of the global design community, with a focus on the Bay Area community, identify internal and external factors impacting the project, and ultimately uncover opportunities for innovation and growth.
Global UXD built a strong community through events but sought deeper impact.
Lacking a business plan and clear member focus, we initiated a discovery phase to understand our community, explore growth opportunities, and solidify our vision for a sustainable future.
Charting a course for growth
SWOT Analysis
Initial Hypothesis and Goals
Limited growth opportunities
The current landscape might offer limited opportunities for designers and technologists to further develop their skills and knowledge.
Awareness and adoption
Communities are siloed and the lack of public awareness of the impact of design hinders design thinking's reach and influence.
Build a global design network
Cultivate a globally connected and thriving design community that champions design thinking and empowers designers and technologists to collectively drive innovation
Strength
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Main chapter is in San Francisco
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Founders' subject expertise
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Utilizes large network
Weaknesses
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Limited brand awareness
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Resource constraints
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Inconsistent management
Opportunities
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Rising market
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Strategic partnerships
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International chapters
Threats
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Securing volunteers
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Competing priorities
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Alignment across chapters
Primary Research Insights
INSIGHTS
JOBS TO BE DONE
Skills development and growth
There is a strong desire for professional growth resources and opportunities. Survey data reinforces this with a preference for practical learning workshops and skill-building sessions.
Provide accessible resources for designers to continuously learn and improve their skills.
Networking and collaboration
Designers and technologists need a platform or events that facilitate meaningful connections with peers, foster collaboration on projects, and expand their professional network.
Create opportunities for designers to connect with others and collaborate.
Access to expertise
Designers and technologists want to learn from industry leaders and access the knowledge and experience of established professionals in the design and tech fields.
Offer exposure to industry leaders and design experts for valuable insights and inspiration.
Tailored learning and events
Designers and technologists need access to a variety of learning experiences that cater to their specific skill levels and design-related interests.
Deliver personalized learning experiences based on designer needs and interests.
THE OPPORTUNITY
How might we cultivate a globally connected and thriving design community that champions professional growth, promotes design thinking, and empowers designers and technologists to collectively enhance the human experience and drive innovation on a global scale?
Define
In the define phase I established a clear and focused direction by defining the project's purpose, identifying the target audience, outlining key objectives and strategies, ideating key initiatives, and establishing success criteria. This phase laid the groundwork in shaping a well-defined project vision and strategy.
Design Objectives
01
Foster design community
Build a global, collaborative hub that inspires and supports designers and technologists.
02
Promote design thinking
Champion widespread adoption of design thinking for innovative, user-centric solutions.
03
Cultivate growth
Empower designers through skill development, mentorship, and meaningful connections.
User Archetypes
USER TYPES
BEHAVIORS
NEEDS
The Emerging Talent
Students and entry-level designers eager to learn and establish themselves in the growing design field.
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Actively seeks educational resources
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Participates in communities and forums
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Looks for mentorship and guidance
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Builds a professional portfolio
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Experiments with design tools
The Design Enthusiast
Non-designers with a passion for user experience, design, and creativity.
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Actively seeks educational resources
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Participates in communities and forums
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Looks for mentorship and guidance
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Builds a professional portfolio
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Experiments with design tools
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Accessible/affordable learning resource
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Opportunities for practice and feedback
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Mentorship and career guidance
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Networking opportunities
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Recognition and validation of skills
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Engaging and inspiring design content
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A sense of community and belonging
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Opportunities to learn and experiment
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Practical design tools and resources
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Recognition for design efforts
The Seasoned Pro
Professionals in senior and leadership roles within the design industry.
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Stays updated on industry trends
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Mentors and guides junior designers
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Leads and manages design projects
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Builds and maintains networks
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Seeks professional development
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Access to industry insights and data
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Opportunities to network with peers
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Recognition for expertise & leadership
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Work-life balance & fullfilment
Ideation
PRIORITIZATION MATRIX
Insight / Initiative
Impact
Feasibility
Priority
Networking events
High
High
High
Design Workshops
High
Medium
High
Mentorship Program
High
Low
Medium
Online Community Platform
Medium
High
Medium
Panel Discussions
Medium
High
Medium
Monthly Newsletter
Medium
High
Low
AREAS OF FOCUS
Growth
Events and programs should prioritize enhanced professional development
Practical Skills
Events should focus on building practical design skills and knowledge
Networking
Initiatives should be geared towards professional networking opportunities
Opportunities
Leverage partnerships seeking to hire designers and build community
Develop
The project advanced from ideation to execution, focusing on initiatives that would shape its identity and impact. The goal was to create actionable plans for creating an integrated vision, cohesive brand, and overall strategic readiness in preparation for launching.
Business Model - The Golden Triangle
Customer Segment
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Students & entry-level designers
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Non-designer interested in design/UX
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Senior & leadership designers
Value Proposition
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Professional Development, like skill-building and access to experts.
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Events fostering connections and networking
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Design thinking advocacy
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Connection with designers and technologists worldwide
Revenue Streams
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Event sponsorships (corporate partnerships)
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Ticket Sales (limited to specific events)
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Premium memberships (potential future model)
Operational Framework
Processes
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Event planning process
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Content creation process
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Volunteer management process & kit
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Partnership development process & kit
Team Structure
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Core team
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Volunteer team
Technology & Tools
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Project management software (Trello; Asana)
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Communication platform (Slack)
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Website content management (Wordpress; Meetup)
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Design Tools (Adobe XD, Creative Suite)
Performance Measurement
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Event attendance & engagement
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Attendee satisfaction survey
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Sponsor satisfaction survey
Go-to-Market Strategy (High Level)
Marketing & Communication
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Leverage social media (LinkedIn, etc...)
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Create engaging design content
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Partner with design industry experts
Launch Activities
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Host public launch event
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Offer introductory design workshops
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Run social media contests & giveaways
Success Metrics
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Track website traffic & member growth
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Measure attendance & engagement
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Analyze social media reach & growth
PRE-LAUNCH
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Business plan & strategy
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Incorporation & legalities
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Volunteer recruitment
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Brand / Website development
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Marketing materials
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Launch website
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Partner / Sponsor engagement
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Speaker outreach
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Event planning
LAUNCH
GROWTH
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Event execution & evaluations
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Continue marketing
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Partnership expansion
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International rollout
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Long-term plan & scaling
Branding: Simple, Modern, Bold
Global UXD's brand is clean, modern, and bold, appealing to a diverse design community. A neutral base with vibrant accents creates a strong visual identity. Clear, readable typography ensures accessibility across platforms. Consistent branding builds trust and recognition. Our core values of inclusivity, user-centricity, and creativity guide our brand evolution.
What do our customer segments need and want?
The Emerging Talent
Seeks a brand that is vibrant, exciting, and bursting with possibility, reflecting their eagerness to break into the design field.
The Design Enthusiast
Seeks a brand that is clean, modern, and informative, allowing them to stay updated on design trends and understanding complex concepts.
The Seasoned Pro
Seeks a brand that is professional and fosters a sense of community, offering opportunities to connect with others and contribute their expertise.
BRAND CORE ELEMENTS
Colors
Timelessness & Accessibility: Black and white foundation ensures our brand is accessible, timeless, and professional across all platforms.
Pops of bold color: Vibrant accents ignite excitement and innovation, catering to designers of all levels.
Typography
Readability first: Clear fonts prioritize comfort and accessibility for all.
Modern & Cohesive: Montserrat font enhances visual harmony and appeals to diverse design audiences.
MARKETING INTEGRATION
Deliver
After crafting our plans and strategies, we were finally ready to execute a renewed Global UXD with a series of impactful events! Initiating key partnerships and sponsorships, we fostered mutually beneficial relationships and managed resources effectively to ensure the seamless execution of our events. Feedback from members, sponsors, and partners was actively collected and analyzed, facilitating continuous iteration and improvement.
Reflect
Co-founding Global UXD has been a transformative journey, fostering my understanding of community building, strategic partnerships, and design thinking's power. Nurturing a diverse membership emphasized tailored engagement, while industry partnerships revealed collaboration strategies. Witnessing the impact on individuals – connecting, learning, and thriving – underscored the profound influence of events and experiences. This has sharpened my leadership, highlighting adaptability, collaboration, and strategic problem-solving as cornerstones of Global UXD's success.
CHALLENGES
01 Maintaining volunteers
Volunteers' enthusiasm and dedication decreased overtime resulting in a high churn rate.
02 Sponsor sustainability
Difficulty attracting and retaining partners required consistently reassessing and delivering value.
03 Global coordination
Aligning chapter leaders across multiple countries required efficient communication and planning.
04 Ensuring inclusivity
Ensuring inclusivity and accessibility to individuals from diverse backgrounds and skill levels requires ongoing efforts and awareness.
SUCCESSES
01 Thriving community hub
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Grew to over 18,000 global members.
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Hosted an average of 30 events per year.
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Achieved consistently high RSVP / Attendance rates and satisfaction scores
02 Influential collaborations
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Established partnerships with notable companies, including IBM, TikTok, Udemy, and Capitol One.
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High impact of collaborations with high attendance and positive feedback.
03 Transformative impact
Proof of positive impact on skill development, career growth, and sense of community based on conducted surveys and collected testimonials.​